The cyclists have with them letters and Christmas wish lists addressed to Santa Claus. At the departure, Saint Nicholas himself waved off the three elves before they cycled away on their yellow postal bicycles.
The journey will last for about two weeks and the elves are expected to cycle through Germany, Denmark and Sweden before arriving at Santa's place in northern Finland, reports the German news agency DPA.
The three cyclists belong to the German postal service's volunteers who answer letters addressed to St Nicholas' post office from children all over the world. Every year, the post office in Saarland in southwestern Germany receives around 30,000 letters and the tradition has been going on since 1967.
The village of St Nicholas is one of seven places in Germany with a Christmas-related name, they all receive letters addressed to Santa Claus or St Nicholas.
Today's Santa Claus has two origins, partly the bishop, later Saint Nicholas, who lived in the 4th century and performed a number of good deeds and miracles. The other origin is a small grey figure who, according to Swedish legend, protected the farm's people and livestock and has nothing to do with Christmas presents.
In Sweden, Christmas presents were handed out by the Christmas goat in the middle of the 19th century. Along with, mainly from Germany, imported Christmas decorations, the Christmas old man, based on Saint Nicholas, was also introduced here.
The word Santa Claus appears for the first time in 1864 (as the title of a Christmas published joke magazine).
Bishop Nicholas died on December 6, 343, according to sources. In parts of Europe, the day is celebrated by giving mainly children small presents on that day.
